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Police Raid Fraternity Party

By Donn Kessler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Charlottesville police, county sheriffs,
and at least one University security guard
raided the Alpha Tau Omega house early
Sunday morning for disturbing the peace
during a fraternity party.

The police were answering five complaints
from people living near the house, according to
one member of the fraternity who had talked
with the police.

According to that student, three
Charlottesville police cars and one University
security police car arrived at the fraternity
house at approximately 1 a.m. Sunday
morning. The officers spoke to Al Hadeed,
president of the house, and asked him to try to
keep the noise down.

The student stated that Mr. Hadeed then
called the municipal police headquarters and
was informed of what statutes the house could
be breaking if they continued the noise.

The fraternity members, said the student,
then tried to keep the noise down and the band
took a rest. The band began playing at 1:30.

Local Police Arrive

A short time after the band had resumed
their music, nine Charlottesville police cars and
one security guard arrived at the house. The
student related that five of the policemen,
accompanied by two police dogs, came up to
the front of the house while eight other
policemen moved around to the back door.

Brothers in the fraternity then stopped the
police from entering the house and the student
said that one local policeman refused to talk to
the students and only ordered them to break up
the party. He added that other policemen
seemed to be somewhat understanding.

Mr. Hadeed then supposedly followed the
police to their cars and was shown a warrant
that the police had to enter the house.

The party broke up about 15 minutes later.

It has been discovered by The Cavalier Daily
that the security guard, who has not been
identified, did not have authorization to
accompany the police to the house and that no
report was filed with University Security
concerning the incident.

Information 'False'

Rea Houchens, chief of University Security,
told The Cavalier Daily yesterday that he had
"not heard anything about a University security
guard" helping to break up the party. Mr.
Houchens added that the information about the
presence of the security guard was "absolutely
false."

This is the first time that police have entered
fraternity property on official business since
last spring's student strike.

Last May, while police were arresting
students on the streets, police also entered the
ATO house and arrested Mr. Hadeed during a
faculty cocktail party. It has been rumored that
Mr. Hadeed is now considering charges of
false arrest against the police for that action.